3rd country return; is airport enough?

Question

Outbound: Los Angeles (LAX) - Hong Kong (HKG) - Shanghai (PVG)~5 days in ShanghaiReturn: Shanghai (PVG) - Tokyo - Los Angeles (LAX)Is transiting via Tokyo airport (not actually visiting the city) on the return enough to be eligible for 144 hours?  Or do I actually need to visit Tokyo (exit the airport) in this case?

Joshua · Answer

Yes, it's enough. You don't need to actually enter Japan to get the 144.

Borut · Answer

Jim, the vary basic rule of 144 hour visa free transit says that only the immediate points, regardless of their nature, before and after your mainland Chinese destination, matter and those immediate points have to be in two different countries or eligible territories (eligible territories are Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau). In other words, everything that matter is your itinerary is the segment:Hong Kong - Shanghai - TokyoWhat will you do before Hong Kong or after Tokyo it is up to you and it does not bother the Chinese authorities at all. To conclude, your itinerary is definitely and undeniably eligible for 144 hour visa free transit in wider Shanghai area and you do not need any kind of visa. Have a nice journey.

3rd country return; is airport enough?

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